Denmark...



Little Mermaid(s)



Isabella getting introduced to
my favourite writer, Hans Christian Andersen



… the land of small cars, bicycles and people with big hearts; or at least that was our experience.



Now, that's bike park!



As you may know, we spent Spring Break 2012 in the land of the Vikings. The sights and sounds of Roskilde and Copenhagen were enough to keep any tourist engaged. From its cobblestone streets to water canals zigzagging through the city, and from the old castles to the new and beautifully built Opera House, Denmark has something to offer everyone.

However, this trip was not just about experiencing a new country; rather, it was about reconnecting families and introducing new members to the old ones. And I think we succeeded in accomplishing just that, thanks to my family’s wonderful hospitality.



Royal Plaza



I met my cousins’ spouses and children for the first time, while Karm (my wife) met most of her extended family only for the first or second time.

However, the highlight of the trip was the way Isabella, our 6 year-old world-traveller, was embraced and loved by everyone in Denmark. To watch Isabella review old pictures with her great uncle, to witness a bond being developed between Isabella and my cousins and their respective families, and to hear Isabella talk about her experiences in Denmark was an amazing experience.

Unfortunately, our 1 year-old world-traveller, will not remember much about this trip, however, rest assured that he had an impact on everyone around him through his mischievous behaviour, his devilish smile and baby-words, which in no way, shape or form make sense to anyone except himself. One such word was “Teekam”, which was repeated by everyone throughout most of the trip.

Finally, it was great to share this experience with my parents. I loved sitting on the sidelines to watch my mom and her brother (my Uncle Esi) disagree on things like two teenagers, or to listen to stories between my parents and Uncle Esi and Zohreh Joon (my Aunt (Uncle Esi’s wife)).

Another reunion must take place as every 20 years just doesn’t do it.

Thanks for reading and wish you a lovely reunion with your loved ones.

Armin

PS. Thanks to Hadis, Paritpal, Mahdis, Jacob, Sara, Payam, Daei Esi, Zohreh Joon, Elham, Jamshid, and their children for making this a memorable vacation. Love you all. Also, I wanted to thank all those that came to visit us, whether they travelled from within Denmark or as far away as Germany. Your presence made this trip that much more enjoyable.



PPS. As a bonus, we got to spend the Persian New Year together. This was a real treat in that the it had been about 30 years ago that we got to do that.